The Minister for Higher Education and Training, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, has officially restarted the process for the public to nominate candidates to chair the country’s 21 Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs).

The decision comes after Nkabane was forced to back down and withdraw the previous chairpersons, which included Buyambo Mantashe, the son of ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe, former KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Nomusa Dube-Ncube and former sport, arts and culture MEC in the same province, Amanda Bani.

The DA’s MP, Karabo Khakhau, was the first one to blow the whistle, saying the list looks like a cadre deployment exercise. She wrote to the parliament demanding that Dr Nkabane come and explain herself. The fight was later joined by the EFF, leading to the violent ejection of MP Sihle Lonzi from parliament while he was demanding answers.

Under immense pressure, Dr Nkabane withdrew the list last week and made a public undertaking that the process would be started afresh. And she has since honoured that undertaking, as today, 22 May 2025, the call for fresh nominations was published in the official government gazette.

“Interested stakeholders in the relevant sectors are invited to nominate suitably qualified candidates in possession of NQF level 8 qualification coupled with, amongst others, a blend of knowledge, skills, and experience required for the effective functioning of the SETA and the Skills Development System (preferably competent candidates with intensive wealth of sectoral knowledge, technical experience and leadership capability).

“Preference will be given to people with disabilities, youth, and women during the nomination within policy and legislative context. The deadline for submission of nominations is 12 June 2025 at 16h30,” reads the gazette, which has been signed off by Dr Nkabane.

The Gazette stated that the candidates who were nominated in response to the previous call may be renominated if they are still willing to be considered for fresh appointments.